de Souza Karla Zanolla Dias, Vale Fabiene Bernardes Castro, Geber Selmo
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Menopause. 2016 Nov;23(11):1252-1256. doi: 10.1097/GME.0000000000000766.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of Tribulus terrestris for the treatment of hypoactive sexual desire disorder in postmenopausal women and evaluate its effect on the serum levels of testosterone.
We performed a prospective randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study, during 18 months. A total of 45 healthy sexually active postmenopausal women reporting diminished libido were selected to participate in the study and were randomly assigned to receive 750 mg/d of T terrestris or placebo for 120 days. Randomization was performed using sealed envelopes. All participants answered the Female Sexual Function Index and the Sexual Quotient-female version questionnaires and had their serum levels of prolactin, thyroid-stimulating hormone, total testosterone, and sex hormone-binding globulin measured.
A total of 36 participants completed the study, because 3 from each group were excluded due to side effects and 3 dropped out due to personal reasons. FSFI questionnaire results demonstrated an improvement in all domains in both groups (P < 0.05) except for lubrication which was improved only in the study group. QS-F results showed a significant improvement in the domains of desire (P < 0.01), arousal/lubrication (P = 0.02), pain (P = 0.02), and anorgasmia (P < 0.01) in women who used T terrestris, whereas no improvement was observed in the placebo group (P > 0.05). Moreover, free and bioavailable testosterone levels showed a significant increase in the T terrestris group (P < 0.05).
Tribulus terrestris might be a safe alternative for the treatment of hypoactive sexual desire disorder in postmenopausal women, because it was effective in reducing symptoms with few side effects. Its probable mechanism of action involves an increase in the serum levels of free and bioavailable testosterone.
本研究旨在评估刺蒺藜治疗绝经后女性性欲减退障碍的疗效，并评估其对血清睾酮水平的影响。
我们进行了一项为期18个月的前瞻性随机、双盲、安慰剂对照研究。共选取45名报告性欲减退的健康、有性活动的绝经后女性参与研究，她们被随机分配接受每日750毫克刺蒺藜或安慰剂，为期120天。随机分组采用密封信封法。所有参与者均回答了女性性功能指数和女性性商问卷，并检测了血清催乳素、促甲状腺激素、总睾酮和性激素结合球蛋白水平。
共有36名参与者完成了研究，因为每组有3人因副作用被排除，3人因个人原因退出。女性性功能指数问卷结果显示，两组所有领域均有改善（P<0.05），但润滑方面仅研究组有改善。性商-女性版结果显示，使用刺蒺藜的女性在性欲（P<0.01）、性唤起/润滑（P=0.02）、疼痛（P=0.02）和性高潮障碍（P<0.01）领域有显著改善，而安慰剂组未观察到改善（P>0.05）。此外，刺蒺藜组游离睾酮和生物可利用睾酮水平显著升高（P<0.05）。
刺蒺藜可能是治疗绝经后女性性欲减退障碍的一种安全替代方法，因为它能有效减轻症状且副作用较少。其可能的作用机制包括血清游离睾酮和生物可利用睾酮水平升高。
